An opera diva for Sweden?

About Malena Ernman

Referring to Malena Ernman as Sweden’s most unusual opera star would hardly be an exaggeration. The mezzo-soprano from Sandviken - north Sweden - comfortably goes from the high culture opera houses of Vienna and Paris to comedy sketches at award shows without regard to the reactions from the sometimes-conservative world of opera.

Some minutes ago, Swedish broadcaster revealed a surprise wildcard for their national final Melodifestivalen 2009: mezzo-soprano Malena Ernman will sing La Voix written by veteran composer Fredrik Kempe!

Malena Ernman has amongst others sung Cherubino in Le Nozze Di Figaro in Berlin, Rosina in Il Barbiere Bi Siviglia by Rossini in Berlin, Stockholm and Helsinki. She had the title role in Carmen at the Royal Opera Stockholm and has also worked with René Jacobs in Berlin, Brussels, Innsbruck, Vienna and Paris in roles like Nerone in Agrippina, Roberto in Scarlatti’s Griselda, Diana in Cavalli’s La Calisto and Nerone in L’Incoronazione Di Poppea by Monteverdi. Malena has also given concerts all around the world.

Outside the world of opera and operettas, Malena has performed chansons, cabaret, jazz and has appeared in musicals. She will perform La Voix in Melodifestivalen 2009, a song written by Fredrik Kempe who also co-wrote Sweden's entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006, Invincible by Carola.

18 singers/groups have been revealed by SVT now - 14 are still to go and the station promises us more surprises during the next weeks!